Analytical Review: Physiologic Control of Red Cell Production

THE PRIMARY FUNCTION of the erythropoietic tissue is to produce hemoglobin-containing red blood cells capable of carrying oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. If the oxygen supply and consequently the tissue tension of oxygen are inadequate for cellular metabolism, a compensatory increase in red cell production occurs. If the oxygen supply is too great and the oxygen tension unnecessarily high, there is a decrease in red cell production. These facts have led to the conclusion that the tissue tension of oxygen controls the production of red cells in the bone marrow. 1